When it comes to understanding your vehicle’s worth, knowing Black Book and Blue Book valuations can make a big difference in how much you get when you sell or trade in your current vehicle. At Capitol Mazda, we want to help you navigate the process with confidence, whether you’re researching your car’s value before an upgrade or preparing to trade it in.
Trade-in valuation provided by Kelley Blue Book is commonly referred to as simply “Blue Book” trade-in valuation. It’s used by many car dealers because it is free and requires no monthly payment. It ranks cars into four main categories: excellent, good, fair, and poor. That having been said, Blue Book valuation sometimes is on the higher end of what’s considered normal or fair, especially when buying a new vehicle. Accordingly, if you’re trying to value your trade-in, you may not get as much as the Blue Book valuation would suggest, which can seem misleading to some Los Gatos drivers.
What is Black Book value? Black Book trade-in valuation is widely used by many dealers, including us here at Capitol Mazda in San Jose. It often provides more up-to-date information about car and truck transactions than Kelley Blue Book, making it potentially more accurate. Why? Black Book updates the dealer invoice and MSRP of vehicles weekly.
As you can see, Black Book and Blue Book values both serve a purpose. Here’s a rundown on the main differences between Black Book vs. Blue Book for your convenience:
Our team can help you evaluate your car’s value, explain how Black Book vs. Blue Book figures apply, and assist with your next trade-in or purchase. In addition, browse our new and pre-owned vehicles to see what we have in stock! We’ll have the perfect match for your life in Campbell or San Jose.
